Search continues for missing local woman

A private search to find a missing local woman is still ongoing more than three weeks after her disappearance.

Madison Scott, 20, left Vanderhoof on Friday May 27 with the intention of camping overnight at Hogsback Lake, 25 kilometres south of Vanderhoof.

She was last seen by friends at the lake at 3 a.m. on May 28.

Her family called the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment on Sunday May 29 at 2 p.m. when she failed to return home. Police who attended the area located her tent and her truck, but extensive search efforts to locate her have been unsuccessful so far.

Fourteen out of town investigators continue to work on the case, while the family continue to conduct a private search of the area around Hogsback Lake.

“The investigators are still working away and they still have a full compliment of investigators there,” said Sergeant Rob Vermeulen, RCMP spokesperson with E Division.

He added that investigators have got about 500 tasks that they are following up on.

“A task could be an interview, it could be to follow up a tip, it could be anything – it’s something that has to be done, something that has to be followed up on and completed so they can close that task,” explained Vermeulen.

“The file will carry on until it’s solved and right now we have about 500 tasks that have to be worked on, so they’re [the investigators] going to be busy for a while,” he said.

A public plea from Scott’s parents Dawn and Eldon on Tuesday June 7 did help to bring forward some new tips.

“We got a couple of dozen tips out of that, so the investigators are following up on those as well,” said Vermeulen.

He added that the Scott family is still in close contact with investigators as they continue to conduct their own search for Madison.

A website has been set up to help spread the word and hopefully bring Madison home (www.madisonscott.ca.)

On Wednesday June 15, a post on the site asked if anyone wanted to help search roads, trails, property or canvas residences in the Hogsback area. Volunteers were asked to meet at the Scott’s house at 8 a.m.

Madison Scott is described as a 20-year-old Caucasian, five feet, four inches tall, 170 lbs with ginger hair. She was last seen wearing a black T-shirt and blue jean Capri pants.

The RCMP are requesting the publics assistance in finding Scott.

Anyone who may have seen Madison or may know of her whereabouts should contact the Vanderhoof RCMP detachment immediately at (250) 567-2222. If you wish to report something anonymously you can also call Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS.